London Met university strike against compulsory redundancies

Unison and UCU members held a one day strike at London Met university on Wednesday 22 July. This was after management had repeatedly refused to talk to the unions since November, or even go to ACAS, about avoiding compulsory redundancies, 200 of which have been proposed so far.

This is the result of a plan by the vice chancellor to cut hundreds of courses that will hammer educational provision in London as well as jobs.

Max Watson, Unison branch chair, told the Socialist: "Our strike was absolutely solid and shows what we can achieve when we stand together - whether it's over pay, pensions or jobs we will fight shoulder to shoulder, just as our members were on the picket line today".

There were picket lines at all the main buildings. Strikers said that they are determined to do what is necessary to fight off the attacks.

There was a particularly large and lively picket outside the Women's Library in Aldgate which is part of the university, but has not had such effective protests on other recent strike days.

The strikers I spoke to were looking forward to taking part in the 30 June mass day of action. A demonstration was organised that braved appalling weather to go to lobby a meeting of the university governors in the afternoon.